Mechanical Engineer

Tempo Innovations; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 186,000 - 207,000; Full time

Job summary

Tempo Innovations in San Diego, CA is seeking an experienced Staff Mechanical Engineer to own end-to-end development of mechanical and thermal systems from concept through fabrication and final testing.

You will tackle high-temperature designs (up to 1500°C), mentor junior engineers, and drive projects to completion in a fast-paced startup environment, coordinating with contract manufacturers and internal teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
• 5+ years of professional design and/or hands-on manufacturing experience.
• Experience in a startup or highly dynamic engineering environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, analysis, and manufacturing of complex mechanical and thermal hardware.
• Architect and design systems from ground up using SolidWorks with GD&T.
• Conduct advanced FEA and thermal analyses for high-temperature environments (up to 1500°C).
• Design steel/aluminum weldments and oversee fabrication and quality.
• Architect and implement DAQ and instrumentation to validate prototypes.
• Serve as technical authority for DFM/DFX with hands-on fabrication.
• Own project lifecycles in a startup, delivering hardware on tight timelines.

Skills

Project leadership

Hands-on manufacturing

Mechanical design

GD&T

Data acquisition

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

COMSOL

FEA software

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and driven Staff Mechanical Engineer who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment. You will take ownership of the end-to-end development of mission-critical mechanical and thermal systems, from blank-page concept through analysis, fabrication, and final testing. You will tackle extreme engineering challenges, including high-temperature systems with complex power electronic interfaces while mentoring junior engineers and driving projects across the finish line.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, analysis, and manufacturing of complex mechanical and thermal hardware.
• Architect and design systems from the ground up using SolidWorks, ensuring robust application of GD&T.
• Conduct advanced structural (FEA) and thermal (COMSOL) analyses on systems operating in extreme environments (up to 1500°C).
• Design custom steel and aluminum weldments, overseeing their fabrication and quality.
• Architect and implement data acquisition (DAQ) systems and instrumentation to validate prototype performance.
• Act as a technical authority for DFM/DFA, frequently utilizing hands‑on fabrication skills (welding, machining) to iterate rapidly.
• Take full ownership of project life cycles, navigating the ambiguities of a startup environment to deliver hardware on tight timelines.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
• 5+ years of professional design and/or hands‑on manufacturing experience.
• Prior experience in a startup or highly dynamic engineering environment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or other comparable engineering disciplines.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers.
• Understanding and proper application of GD&T.
• Experience with CAD (SolidWorks).
• Experience performing finite element analysis (FEA).
• Experience performing thermal analysis (COMSOL).
• Experience with steel and/or aluminum weldment design and analysis.
• Experience with high‑temperature (up to 1500°C) system design and analysis.
• Hands‑on design, design for manufacturability (DFM), and fabrication experience.
• Experience with common fabrication methods and tools (welder, router, mill, lathe, hand tools, etc.).
• Data acquisition and instrumentation experience (thermocouples, pressure sensors, electrical sensors, flow sensors, oxygen sensors, etc…).
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects to completion.

Compensation Range

The US base salary range for this full‑time position is $186,000 to $206,900 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job‑related skills, experience, location, and relevant education or training.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity or benefits